Chapter 3 - City of 10,000 Guns

[ateno]

Doos does not include anything, he lets the professional handle hiring. He just watches and finishes his beer.

$1.85 deducted.

Doos

[redwarrior]

Done

[Grognardsw]

Paladin was underwhelmed with the quality of the men, but wasn't surprised. He'd have to keep their duties simple.

"Meet me here at 9:00 am tomorrow and we'll ride out," said Paladin. "If any of you know Chinese translators, speak up."

At dinner he briefed his colleagues (see Paladin solo thread). "Thanks for getting those stones."

William pays close attention to the Wells Fargo story, and shares it with the others. It seems that finding these stage robbers, once we are done with helping the railroad with its difficulties,

“That sounds like a good possibility,” said Paladin.

Paladin took his horse to pick up the wagon. Then to the hotel, where he checked to see if there were any messages from Mrs. Potter.

Then Paladin and the others filled the crate with rocks to the weight indicated by Marlon. Then he wrote up a label, marking it “important equipment delivery” and “c/o Marlon Smith”, and glued it to the crate. Then he loaded it on the wagon with the tent.

"Alright, let's ride out to the spur camp. I'll introduce you to the foreman. We'll be there the next several days or more, to guard and investigate and get the rail construction back on track. I'd like to get to the bottom of the saboteur(s) source. Probably the Chinese. But the racial group tensions don't help."

"Tomorrow I have to ride back for a 8:00 am Cummins meeting, and expect to get the water tanks one way or another to fill the pile driver for the bridge over the gully. The crew will continue track construction on the other side of the gully in the meantime. I'll be back later in the morning with those other hired hands."

They rode to the camp.

After reading the Paladin solo thread on the sabotage situation, does anyone have other ideas for investigating or catching them?

[ateno]

"Do we have a tent and food once we arrive or do we buy one?"

Doos

[Grognardsw]

“The camp has tents and food,” replied Paladin as the horses cantered along the trail.

“I got the extra tent for the saboteur trap.”

[jemmus]

As the men enter the Drover Hotel, Gideon says, Oh, I almost forgot, but I didn't. I went ahead and sold them poor old Army horses them two rustlers rode on to Austin. I got $5 a head, which took some doin. The buyer didn't like them U.S. Army brands on em, he was afraid they was stolen. But I explained how we borrowed em and put down $5 deposits and showed him mah receipt. That convinced him that they wasn't stolen, and it was more or less like the Army kept ar deposits and sold em to us. Ah always keep receipts. Throwin em away is foolish, I got a saddle bag full of em. He hands Andreas, Doos, Paladin and William two $1 bills each.

The dapper-ish young man attending the front desk at the hotel notes the guests' return and perks up. Gentlemen, welcome. We have mail for ya all. He pulls five envelopes from under the counter, one of them with a crescent-shaped coffee stain, and spreads them out. They show the five guests names' written in taut handwriting on the front of the envelopes. Then he takes out and puts two more envelopes on top of William's and Paladin's envelopes. Written in pencil in a kind of school kid's or left-handed scrawl is "From: Texas Rangers To: Mr. William Moore" and "To: Mr. Paladin." The guests open and read the envelopes addresses to each rider.

State Court of Texas
Austin, Texas
June 9, 1873

To Mr. [First Name Last Name]
SUBPOENA
The State Court of the State of Texas orders you to appear at the Travis County Courthouse, 17 Main Street, Austin, Texas at 9:00 ante meridian (A.M.) on the 11th Day of June, 1873, to bear witness and testify in the Criminal Trials of Defendant Michael Duncan and Defendant Mark Davidson. Failure to appear promptly, sober and not under the influence of Spirits, at or before the designated time, is an Offense punishable by the Laws of the State of Texas.

[Signed and stamped with a raised seal]
Hon. Jerry R. Howard

Gideon McLaury says, "Ante meridian A.M. Ah cain't hardly make out what they's tryin to say. Except show up drunk and don't show up late, or you'll git throwed in the calaboose. Another datgum trial of judges, lawyers, lawmen, jailbirds, witnesses, all that. Well, I don't expect there'll be no cryin and bawlin at this one. Unless by that pudgy baby-faced kid, if he's still claimin to be too dumb to know he was gittin in with horse rustlers. June 11th? That's Thursday, I think. The day after tomorra.

There's no letter for Paladin from Miss Potter, missionary of the First Baptist Church to the Chinese rail workers' families and student of the Chinese language.

PCs can roll on Law to see if the recollect where they've heard or seen the name "Jerry R. Howard." A roll of 1 always succeeds, even for PCs with no Law skill.

Paladin's and William's letters are posted in a PM to them.

[jemmus]

In the twilight before the Drover Hotel, Gideon says, Mr. Paladin, I couldn’t find no rocks er loose bricks around town. So I bought two 50 pound bags a cement fer two dollars. I hope the railroad’s gonna reimburse me them two dollars. As he and Andreas, Doos, Paladin and William load the crate and tent onto the wagon, the one-armed man from the Rangers office rides up at a trot with another man. The other man has a reddish mustache, though younger than the one-armed man, looks just about as sunburnt and weather-worn. Both wear silver badges.

The one-armed man says, Mr. Moore, Mr. Paladin, evenin. It looks like y’all are headed out this evenin, so I’m glad we caught ya. This here is Ranger Lieutenant Bob Kyle. Kyle touches the brim of his hat and says, Good to meet ya. The one-armed man continues, We’re sorry to disturb ya at this later hour. I’ll git right to it and say our business. I suppose y’all trust these other gentleman here. A rancher found the Hays County deputy sheriff and another man shot dead at a abandoned ranch house in Llano County. From the location of just over the border from Hays County, it might be the place where you recovered yer horses and captured the horse rustlers. The rancher knew the deputy sheriff, a man name of Harold Riney. But he didn’t know the other man. He wasn’t wearing a badge, so we don’t know if he was fightin with the deputy or workin with him.

It ain’t much to go on, but for gun violence to happen in that lonely part of Llano County in quick succession suggests that there’s a connection. Like, some a the rustlers gang come back fer the bodies or the dead men’s possessions. Or fer somethin important they stashed somewhere on that old ranch. Mr. Paladin, ya mentioned that the rustlers we got incarcerated are a part of a horse rustlin ring operatin in Llano County, Hays County, and with a base in Comal County with a Mr. Harvey Adler. Bob here will be headin up the Rangers’ investigation, and he’d like to ask you for some information.

The younger Ranger, a man maybe in his mid-30s, looks around at everyone and looks each man in the eye.

In a surprisingly quiet and gentle voice, he says, Sirs. Captain Watson has already told me what Mr. Paladin and Mr. William reported. Looks like now it’s gone from just horse theft to gunfightin. Out on the prairie. Everbody sober. No cards or ladies involved. That’s serious. Peace officer maybe concerned enough about it to go outside his county lines and git killed.

He looks around the group and acknowledges with his eyes that they were loading a wagon together, so they’re bunch who ride together. But his eyes courteously play dumb as to inquiring about what kind of mission loading a heavy crate and a tent might involve.

Well, what we’re askin that ya’ll help two er three of us ride to Llano County and take us to that ole ranch house. And point out to us where ya from, and whar the rustlers shot from, and whar the come from and what direction they rode away. And if ya’ll can identify the body of the man found dead with the Hays County deputy sheriff, we’d sure appreciate it. We'd like to ride in the next two days, if possible. If at possible, at 6:00 in the mornin tomorra.

He again looks Andreas, Doos, Gideon, Paladin and William in the eye. Gentlemen, I ain’t gonna lie to ya. The Rangers don't have any cash to pay salaries. It be would volunteer, er collectin bounties. The Wells Fargo is paying two hundred dollars or so fer information about how to stop their stage line troubles. I think them problems are connected to them rustlers and them Llano County shootins. But I could be wrong. You'd be takin a chance on wastin yer time.

Gideon McLaury’s adam’s apple bobs up and down. Those who know him see the man go from cheerful to abject depressed in an instant. He mumbles, Phineas.... That letter from them Kansas bushwackers from the War...

[ateno]

"I would be happy to help you gentlemen..
Knowing doing a good turn for the rangers is worth more in gratitude
... but I have just entered into a contract with this man and I cannot pull back from it.

Mr. Paladin? What say you?"

Doos

[redwarrior]

William speaks up... I'll ride with you and take my chances with what bounties there might be. Deputy Rainey was a good man, and If the dead man is Sebastian, he was a good partner. The railroad will need survive for a few days without whatever help I may have been. BUT I need to be present for the trial on the 11th!

[Grognardsw]

Gideon handed Andreas, Doos, Paladin and William two $1 bills each.

"Thank you Gideon, I was wondering about those horses just recently," said Paladin, accepting the two dollars. "Didn't we have extra weapons unclaimed that we sold too?"

Paladin accepted the letters from the Drover Hotel clerk and read them.

"Hmm, yes Gideon, that's about the gist of it," he said in response to the man's summation. "More court time to deal with. Though the stakes are bigger this time. That judge, the Hon. Jerry R. Howard, seems to ring a bell..."

Law [1d20]=4

I didn't get the letter in PM.



Paladin helped load the wagon.

"Cement dust will have to due then," he said to Gideon. "And maybe the foreman can use it later for their bridge."

The rangers rode up and presented their proposition. Paladin focused in on one part: The Wells Fargo is paying two hundred dollars or so fer information about how to stop their stage line troubles.

Paladin responded to Ranger Lieutenant Bob Kyle: "Lt., we'd be happy to help provide information that may lead to their arrest, and former judge Doos here can note for the record our assistance so as to apply for that Wells Fargo bounty money."

"Now there is a letter..." Paladin checked his pockets for the letter that Gideon found on the dead rustler. (I need to find that post again to discuss.)

"As Doos said, we have some business to attend to that may prevent some of us from joining you now. Not all of us though," as William volunteered. "And we do have a trial to attend on Thursday." Along with a shooting contest derby, though Paladin.

"But after our job is complete, we may be able to join in the effort."

[ateno]

"That's fair, good show all around. We will see everyone soon then. Shall we?

Doos

[jemmus]

Gideon replies, I done sold all the guns in San Marcos and divvied up the moolah. Them two ole Army horses was the last a the stuff.

Here's the letter from the dead rustler's saddlebag.
https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 52#p651752

[Grognardsw]

Paladin read aloud to the Rangers the letter from the dead horse rustler.

“Addressed to Ms. Harriet Shepherd, General Post Office, Lawrence, Kansas. No return address.

This was written by Louis Wilson, a dead horse rustler, to his mother. It mentions Louis’ brother Jack Wilson, a fellow rustler, who is in Austin.

Here’s a suggestion: Address a letter to this Jack, to be held at the General Post Office.;When he drops by to pick it up, say it’s misplaced out back and call the Rangers or police, and arrest him.

Anyway, the letter:

Dear Mama,
I hope all is well with you and you are healthy. I am writing to you from what we call a "station," but there is no building here. We are far from any settlement and about as close to the Comanche Indians as we are to any town -“

Paladin paused, and commented: “That station could be tracked down, if it’s the closest to Comanche land, would be a good place to ask around about the rustlers, or find clues.” He nodded at William.

Paladin resumed the letter: “I have given this letter to a business partner to deliver to a post office for me, so I hope that it will reach you at our beloved old farm in Lawrence.

Mama, you would be proud of what me and Farley have been doing. Last month we took 21 total head of horses off of the U.S. Army, right out from under their noses. One of them was a real pretty mare, it was an officer's horse. It wasn't but 2 days before we had them rebranded from US to U$, sold for silver dollars, and clear out of the county -

Paladin paused to comment: “Well theft of military horses makes this a Federal matter, lieutenant.”

He continued; “And Mama, that's just the small potatas. Over the past few weeks we've stuck up half a dozen stagecoaches in lonely spots on the roads around here. The money is good, because it seems that people riding stagecoaches from one spot in Texas to another one far away carry about every nickel they have with them -“

Paladin interjected: “This proves the horse rustlers are also the Wells Fargo stage coach robbers.”

Paladin heard a cash register ringing sound in his head. He continued the letter:

“In the beginning we shot the drivers and the shotgun men -“

Paladin couldn’t help another aside: “Add murder to their charges!”

Back to the letter: “That was unfortunate, because sometimes there was no passenger able to drive a team and get back to their starting point or their destination. (Mama, if the passengers is Texan or from the South, we don't take the horses. That would be just too heartless). I suppose thirst or the Comanches got them, but I don't know for sure. Now we're more expert. We don't like to shoot a Texan or anyone from the 11 southern states. We found out that if you just ride out on the road with a kerchief over your face and firearms raised, about every one shotgun rider and driver will throw his hands up quick. They'll throw down their weapons quicker than flipping a pancake. That has saved many having to shoot quite a few men.

Mama, that brings to mind a recent story. We was on the road outside of an ugly little town called Kerrville, Texas. Here come a stagecoach rig all fine paneled like it was from New York or Boston. Well of course we set onto it and stopped it. Well, at present we have a saddle bum who calls himself Phineas with us. An odd feller, who is prone to chuckling to hisself before fights and being easy to pull a trigger. He brags that he once shot a bald-headed feller just to see if the bullet would ricochet off of his bald head. I don't know if that is true or not or just a made-up story. But I from what I now know about this Phineas feller, I wouldn't put that murder past him.”

Paladin stopped, looked at Gideon to comment about his brother Phineas.

Then continued: “Well, we stopped the stage and the shotgun and driver threw down their guns and raised their hands. Farley made them get down from the stage, dismounted from his horse, and stuck a pistol into a window. The passengers got out onto the road quick enough and emptied their satchels, pockets, and purses. We got a fine gold watch on a silver chain, in addition to all kinds of cash and goods. Then Farley said, "All right, ladies and gentlemen. You can be on your way. Except you." You see, there was a feller who didn't look like a regular Texan. He a barber shop shave from just a day or two before and had on a clean suit. I myself suspected him of being a Yankee carpetbagger or newspaper reporter or a railroad man. So Farley said to him, "What do you call batter bread that your ma, grandma, or aunt flips over in a hot skillet?" The man correctly answered, "A pancake." (Yankees call pancakes "hot cakes" or "flapjacks".) But then Farley asked, "What do you call a tree nut that can be baked with sugar or molasses into a tasty pie?" The man answered, "A PEE-can." That's what they call pecans. We say "pi-CAHN", but they say "PEE-can."

Well, Mama, that saddlebum Phineas perked up at that and right away shot the man straight through the heart. He laughed and said, "I knew it. A U.S. Army spy. Posing as a stagecoach passenger. I'm surprised the dumb (blankety-blank) got this far. Only a born Yankee spy would be so dumb as to call a pecan a pee-can in Texas." I don't think that feller was no Army spy, but he sure enough was a Yankee.

Well, I will close now. I don't know when we can get back to Kansas and see y'all. They say that maybe in a few years a President will be elected who'll pardon "war crimes." Of course, the only people who have to worry about being accused of a war crime is the ones who lost the war. Mama, please pardon the misspellings. We hardly have a pencil and paper here, much less a dictionary to check spelling. Please give our regards to Ida and young Ruby, who I hardly had a chance to see before riding off to war. You would be proud to know that Farley is as brave as he was when we rode with Captain Bill Anderson. He's been a good and strong young man, and Daddy would be proud of him if he was still alive.

If you want to write to us, for now here's the address-
Jack Wilson
Hold at General Post Office
Austin, Texas.

With love,
Your son Louis “

Paladin let out a big breath. He needed a glass of water after all that jawing.

“Please wire the Wells Fargo bounty money to the Bank of San Fransisco, care of Paladin,” he said to the lieutenant. He handed the ranger his business card.

[jemmus]

Paladin read aloud to the Rangers the letter from the dead horse rustler.

“Addressed to Ms. Harriet Shepherd, General Post Office, Lawrence, Kansas. No return address.

This was written by Louis Wilson, a dead horse rustler, to his mother. It mentions Louis’ brother Jack Wilson, a fellow rustler, who is in Austin.

Here’s a suggestion: Address a letter to this Jack, to be held at the General Post Office.;When he drops by to pick it up, say it’s misplaced out back and call the Rangers or police, and arrest him.
The Rangers look at each other and nod. That could work, the older, one-armed man says. But we'd have to trust a postal clerk to have the nerve carry the plan through when the time came.

Paladin paused, and commented: That station could be tracked down, if it’s the closest to Comanche land, would be a good place to ask around about the rustlers, or find clues. He nodded at William.
Ranger Bob Kyle says, The problem is Comanche land runs 400 miles north-south to the Indian Territory. We'd need more information to find that horse rustler "station."

Paladin paused to comment: Well theft of military horses makes this a Federal matter, lieutenant.
Kyle nods. That's a fact, sir. But the Army ain't much good at trackin down and findin these kind a fellas. But when we get em, both the Federal government will have a chance to throw the book at em.

Paladin heard a cash register ringing sound in his head. He continued the letter:

“In the beginning we shot the drivers and the shotgun men -“

Paladin couldn’t help another aside: Add murder to their charges!
Both men grimly nod. Without further comment.

Back to the letter: "Well, at present we have a saddle bum who calls himself Phineas with us. An odd feller, who is prone to chuckling to hisself before fights and being easy to pull a trigger. He brags that he once shot a bald-headed feller just to see if the bullet would ricochet off of his bald head. I don't know if that is true or not or just a made-up story. But I from what I now know about this Phineas feller, I wouldn't put that murder past him.”

Paladin stopped, looked at Gideon to comment about his brother Phineas.

Gideon looks indecisive for a minute. He’s mentioned a couple of times about how he’s not overly fond of lawmen, courts, lawyers, and especially jails. But he says in a grim, resigned, almost doomed, voice, I know a fellow named Phineas. My older brother, Phineas McLaury. A mean ole cuss. That murder there sounds about like somethin he might do.
Mr. Paladin, I already accepted a job from ya, and ah don’t renege on a promise. But if ya don’t need me that much, I’d like to ride with this men. A person bears some responsibility for his blood kin’s actions. And responsibility to the world fer puttin an end to em, if they’s no good. And I think I know that mean sumbitch’s habits better’n most. But if ya really need me, ah’ll do the job. The good Lord will decide when it’s time fer me and Phineas to cross paths again.

Paladin let out a big breath. He needed a glass of water after all that jawing.

Please wire the Wells Fargo bounty money to the Bank of San Francisco, care of Paladin, he said to the lieutenant. He handed the ranger his business card.
Ranger lieutenant Bob Kyle took the card, read it, put it in his shirt pocket, and nodded. When we got em in the bag, we’ll let the Wells Fargo office know. Do ya mind if we take that letter? I’d like to study it a little. Ya can learn a lot from what a man puts in a letter. His level of education, his background, the attention he pays to handwritin and like details, and jist how he thinks. Especially one to his mama way off in Kansas, he kind of murmurs under his breath.

We need Paladin’s replies to Kyle and Gideon, and also comments or actions of other PCs. Then we’ll proceed to the rest of the evening and night.

[Grognardsw]

“I understand Gideon, go ahead with William and help track down the rustlers and Phineas. I’ll join you as soon as I can. Wire me your progress here in Austin.”

Paladin, having experienced the corruption and/or ineptitude of lawmen in Texas, thought it best have a copy of the letter and a receipt for the original given to the ranger.

“Certainly Lt. Kyle, but let me make a copy of the letter as I’d like to keep the content of it for my own reasons.”

Paladin took out one of the blank pieces of W&N stationery, turned one over, and copied the letter.

At the bottom, he wrote “Original of this letter given to Ranger Lt. Bob Kyle, on this date, as witnessed by those present (listing Doos, William, Gideon, Andreas, and the older ranger). With a space for Lt. Kyle and Paladin and the others to sign.

“If you’d sign here Lt. this receipt for the original letter, which I’ll give you.”

[jemmus]

The day's light is going out over the street in front the Drover Hotel in Austin. The proprietors of various kinds of businesses serving the needs of the dollars of the community-- general goods, stabling/horse sales, shoe sales/boot repair, mortician/burial, etc.-- have pulled down window shades, turned keys in front door locks, and ridden or stomped their way home.

Ranger lieutenant Kyle and the older Ranger look at Paladin kind of appraisingly, like they just learned something new about him. Kyle says, That's astute of ya, Mr. Paladin. I can understand yer wantin a copy and a receipt. He signs. Mr. Moore, Mr. McLaury, I'll be around tomorra mornin at six sharp, probably with two or three more Rangers. We'll ride while it's cool and git to Llano County with men and horses still fresh. I'd appreciate it if you'd have yer horses saddled and be ready to ride then. Bring whatever arms ya see fit to. You been to the place of the gunfight, I ain't one to advise.

The one-armed senior Ranger says, Well sirs, sorry to hold ya up and we appreciate yer time. Lt. Kyle and me will be goin over the county jail to talk to the rustlers ya brought in from Llano County. Name of Mike Duncan, age around 25 years old, and a Mark Davidson, around 19, 20. A first-hand witness locked up and facin trial is always a good source of information about what happened, and who was who and who did what. Mr. Moore, Mr. McLaury, y'all probably know the two pretty well, havin shot it out with their gang and rode with em from Llano to Austin. Yer welcome to come along if you'd like to see if they give any kinda matching story. The two lawmen wait for a reply to the hinted request.

Gideon McLaury (who has a few times stated that he's not overly fond of lawmen and associated things such as courts, lawyers and jails) takes a dip of tobacco and says, I'll decline the invitation, becuz there's no need fer me to go. Ah'll tell y'all all about them two right here. That Mike Duncan ain't gonna tell ya nothin about that stage robbin gang him and his brothers sold horses to. I'd bet on he's figurin will eventually bust him out of whatever bird cage ya put him in. He was smart enough to git this far without gittin hanged-- which was quite a piece a good luck fer him.
But the Davidson kid, he'll squeal on the whole bunch. If he thinks it'll save him even one day of time in the hole, he’ll talk. Gideon courteously turns his head and launches a wad of tobacco-infused spittle in a long parabolic arc onto the dirt of the street.

Paladin and Doos set out for the rail construction camp, Paladin driving the rented wagon. The going is slower than on horseback and the drive takes an hour. As they approach the camp, they off in the distance the sound of sledgehammers driving spikes into crossties, to the west across the gully. Though it’s well after dark, around 8:00 PM. It seems that the assistant manager Mr. Behrens was able enforce his order that the crews work until 10:00 tonight.

William – Do you go to the jail with the Rangers to interview the prisoners from the farmhouse Mike Duncan (“the mustached man”) and Mark Davidson (the rather short and pudgy baby-faced rustler)?
Doos – Do you ride in the wagon or alongside on your horse?
William, Paladin and Doos – Other actions tonight?

[ateno]

Doos – Do you ride in the wagon or alongside on your horse?
William, Paladin and Doos – Other actions tonight?

I will give me horse a break and attach her to the back of the wagon and ride alongside.

Find his bunk, a place to put his horse, walk around the area getting his bearings and know where the water, food and hole in the ground is.

Doos

[redwarrior]

The one-armed senior Ranger says, Well sirs, sorry to hold ya up and we appreciate yer time. Lt. Kyle and me will be goin over the county jail to talk to the rustlers ya brought in from Llano County. Name of Mike Duncan, age around 25 years old, and a Mark Davidson, around 19, 20. A first-hand witness locked up and facin trial is always a good source of information about what happened, and who was who and who did what. Mr. Moore, Mr. McLaury, y'all probably know the two pretty well, havin shot it out with their gang and rode with em from Llano to Austin. Yer welcome to come along if you'd like to see if they give any kinda matching story. The two lawmen wait for a reply to the hinted request.

William says I'll be happy to accompany you gentlemen to interrogate the prisoners. If I might make a suggestion, why don't we talk to Davidson first, and give him the general idea that Mike has pinned a few of the murders on him, and see if that rattles him enough to start spilling his guts. Then, when we go talk to Duncan, we can maybe know some facts to get him off balance and maybe trick him into revealing more than he intends.

I'm forgetting the time of day, if it's too late, I'll shift to option B
On our way to the jail, William will as one of the Rangers to accompany him and make his way over to either the courthouse or wherever the judge is staying and look up either the Judge (preferred) or the bailiff and let him know that he & Gideon have been requested to accompany the rangers as part of their investigation into the horse theft ring and to identify another body. And will state that he will do everything in his power to appear at the trial as the summons requires, but out of fully respect to You, Your Office, and the Law, I wanted to make sure you know what we're doing if we end up being unavoidably delayed, so that may be taken into account.
Mainly, it's an excuse to actually use Bureaucracy, which hasn't come into play yet!
Bureaucracy 17 [1d20]=13

Option B
As we walk over in that direction, And would it be possible for one of your fellows to have a chat with the judge so that he knows that I'm traveling with y'all in pursuit of the horse thief ring, and not disrespecting his court if I don't get back in time?

After that, he will accompany the Rangers to the prisoner's interrogations, after which he'll pack his saddlebags, get a good night's rest, and get up early to saddle his horse.

[Grognardsw]

“Thank you Lt.,” said Paladin, pocketing the signed letter after everyone put their John Hancock on it.

“As to those horse rustling prisoners Mike and Mark, let me save you the trouble. I might have mentioned when we dropped them off that we have signed confessions from both of them.”

Paladin got the letters out, copied them like the other one, had the rangers sign for them. “We’ve got them dead to rights.”

“Good luck William and Gideon!”

Along the way to the rail camp Paladin talked plans with Doos and Andreas. “I’ll introduce you to the foreman. We’ll set the saboteur lure crate in the tent. Then keep watch turn discretely. Tomorrow morning I have to leave early for a 8:00 with Cummins. Hopefully be back by lunch time with wagons and water for the piledriver. I’m open to ideas on how to find the saboteurs. I was thinking William you could watch the Chinese group, Andreas the Mexicans?”

Arriving in camp, Paladin did all this.

[cybersavant]

Along the way to the rail camp Paladin talked plans with Doos and Andreas. “I’ll introduce you to the foreman. We’ll set the saboteur lure crate in the tent. Then keep watch turn discretely. Tomorrow morning I have to leave early for a 8:00 with Cummins. Hopefully be back by lunch time with wagons and water for the piledriver. I’m open to ideas on how to find the saboteurs. I was thinking William you could watch the Chinese group, Andreas the Mexicans?”

Andreas Larson rides behind the wagon to the camp.

"Okay. Vhere do dey camp? Who ist going to vatch our tent?